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Council approves Responsible Energy Council license for Union Oil Building archives
Summary
Council voted 4–0 to license most of the Union Oil Building’s second floor to the Responsible Energy Council (REC) to catalogue and manage the city’s oil‑museum collection; staff will return a loan agreement requiring council approval with safeguards to keep the collection in Santa Paula.
The Santa Paula City Council on May 5 approved a five‑year license agreement (with up to three five‑year renewals) allowing the Responsible Energy Council to occupy roughly 4,400 square feet of the Union Oil Building’s second floor to inventory, archive and maintain the city’s oil‑industry collection.
City Manager Singer said REC would pay $0.50 per square foot (about $2,200 monthly) beginning six months after possession, share utility costs proportionally and help maintain items tied to the Lundgren endowment. The council added a direction that loan terms be returned to council for formal approval, and staff agreed to clarify signage language so any tenant signage is confined to the center door that provides access upstairs.
Cliff Simonson, vice president of REC, described the nonprofit as a 501(c)(3) that preserves energy heritage. Supporters David Compton and Tim Trui urged approval at the meeting, saying REC had the experience and resources to preserve artifacts and make them available by appointment to researchers.
Council members asked how the city would prevent loss or sale of artifacts. Staff said the city retains ownership of the collection; the loan would be structured so items remain in Santa Paula unless council authorizes temporary loans for exhibitions or other limited purposes. Staff also agreed to add a city right of first refusal should the city ever consider selling the collection.
The motion to approve was made by Council Member Chavez and seconded by Council Member Cornejo; the roll‑call vote was unanimous 4–0 as amended. The loan agreement will return to council with explicit language about local retention and short‑term loan approvals.
